Play devices

ABSTRACT

A childrens&#39;&#39; play device comprising side frame and end members, one of which is detachable. One alternative end member makes the structure suitable for use as a collapsible playpen or base for a table or trampoline and the other alternative end member makes the structure suitable as a climbing frame or a support for a swing, slide, seesaw, or other similar apparatus, such second alternative end member being rigidly connected to the side frame and being arranged in use at the top of the structure.

United States Patent Williams 51 Feb. 22, 1972 [54] PLAY DEVICES FOREIGNPATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [72] Inventor: Gerald G. Williams, 71 ListowelRoad, 164,087 9/1949 Austria ..5/93 King Heath, m g m, ngl 910,0261/1946 France .256/25 [22] Filed: July 23, 1969 601,610 8/1934 Germany..5/93 782,117 9/1957 Great Britain..... ....272/60 [21] Appl. No.:843,969 18,385 7/1928 Netherlands ..256/26 30] Foreign puma Priority DamOTHER PUBLICATIONS July 27, 1968 Great Britain .35 966/68 Sciem June1937 Page 71 Dec. 18, 1968 Great Britain ..60,175/68 Prim Emmner mchardC. Pinkham 52 us. C1. ..272/60, 272/565 R, 272/85,

5/93, 256/25 248/370 Attorney-Holman & Stern [51] Int. Cl. ..A63h 17/04[58] Field 01 Search ..272/56.5, 60, 1,58,21,24, [571 ABSTRACT 272/2552-5; D34/5; A childrens play device comprising side frame and end mem-DS/si 5/93 2; 256/25 26 bers, one of which is detachable. Onealternative end member makes the structure suitable for use as acollapsible playpen or [56] References Cited base for a table ortrampoline and the other alternative end UNITED STATES PATENTS membermakes the structure suitable as a climbing frame or a support for aswing, slide, seesaw, or other similar apparatus, 502,367 8/1893 Lake..272/56.5 s h e o d alt rnative end member being rigidly connected tothe side frame and being arranged in use at the top of the structure.

8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDFEB'ZZ I872 sum 2 UF 2 I PLAYDEVICES This invention relates to childrens play devices of the kindcomprising a structure which can be used in a number of activities.

The object of the invention is to provide such a device in aparticularly convenient and effective form.

In accordance with the present invention, a childrens play devicecomprises a structure having two side frames, an end member hingedlyconnected to the side frames at one end of the structure, and one of twoalternative interchangeable end members at the other end of thestructure, one of said altemative end members being hingedly connectableto the side frames to form a collapsible playpen, or a base for a tableor trampolene, or similar apparatus wherein the side frames and endmembers are on edge, and the other of the alternative end members beingrigidly securable at the ends of the side frames to form a climbingframe, or a support for a swing, slide, seesaw, or similar apparatus,wherein the rigid end member is uppermost.

The invention will now be described by way ofexample with reference tothe accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the play device constructed inaccordance with this invention for use as a playpen,

FIG. 2 illustrates the device arranged for use as a climbing frame, and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the end member of the devicein FIG. 2.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the basic parts of the device are two sideframes and 11, connected to a two part end frame 12 at one end. At theother end, either a similar end frame 13 or alternatively a rigid endmember 14 may be used.

The side members 10, 11 have a number of spaced dowels 15 extendingbetween upper and lower rails 16, 17 of rectangular cross section.Midway between the upper and lower rails l6, 17 on each side frame is afurther rail 18 carrying rotatable plastics balls 19, one between eachpair of adjacent dowels 15. These balls 19 prevent a child from climbingup the side frames.

The end frames 12 and 13 are identical and each comprises a pair offrames made up of dowels 20 and upper and lower rails 21, 22. The twoframes of each end frame 12, 13 are connected by a hinge 23 on theoutwardly facing surfaces of two rectangular wooden members 24 on theframes respectively. To connect the end frames 12, 13 to the side frames10, 11, the side frames carry metal plates 25 for reception ofconnecting pivot pins 26 coinciding with the axes of the first dowel 20on the adjacent end of the end frame 12 or 13.

As shown in the FIG. 1 construction, the end frame 13 is used and thedevice is thus suitable for use as a playpen, or alternatively as a basefor a table or trampolene, or other device. In this mode the device isarranged with the side frames 10, 11

. and end frames 12, 13 arranged in a rectangle and these parts aredisposed on edge. The end frames l2, 13 being hingedly collapsible canbe folded to allow the device to be folded for storage. At least thepivot pins 26 connecting the end frame 13 are removable.

Latch mechanisms (not illustrated) are used to prevent inadvertentfolding of the end frames 12 and 13, and further latch mechanisms may beused to maintain the rectangular configuration of the structure.

In an alternative arrangement the end frames 12 and 13 are one pieceframes and folding of the device takes place by moving the side members10 and 11 in opposite lengthwise directions.

As illustrated in FIG. 2 the structure can be used as a climbing frameor as a support for a swing, slide, seesaw, or other device, by standingit on the end frame 12, and substituting for the end frame 13, a rigidend member 14, which is secured to the side frames 10 and 11, byclamping pieces 27 which engage the first two dowels 15 of the sideframes 10 and 11 respectively. The clamping pieces 27 are hinged to themember 14 along their upper edges and are secured in place by wing nutsand bolts indicated at 28. Fixed along two of the margins of the endmember 14 are respective metal frames 29 extending upwards from the flatupper surface of the end member 14.

The end member 14 is shorter than the end frame 13 which it replaces, sothat the side frames 10 and 11 converge upwardly, thus providingadditional rigidity to the structure in its upright position, as shownin FIG. 2. The end member 14 is a moulding made from resin bonded glassfiber, or similar material.

In order to impart lateral stability to the structure the structure inthe FIG. 2 mode is provided with a base comprising a flat board 30foldable in the middle and having side members 31 secured to it. Thebase, furthermore, has planks 32 secured on it which engage between thedowels 20 of the end frame 12 to locate the end frame 12 on the base andalso to afford a substantially flat floor. Triangular section woodenparts 33 engage the upper and lower members 21, 22 of the end frame 12to provide a ramp between the portions of the floor defined by the base.

Extending between the corners of the base and the upper ends of the sideframes 10 and 11 are steel channel section struts 34. These are securedto the side members 31 of the base by bolts 35 and at their other endsthey are connected by hinges 36 to the upper or lower members I6, 17 ofthe side frames 10 or 11 respectively. Each of the hinges 36 isconnected to the member 16 or 17 by a single pin to permit the strut tobe'moved angularly thus minimizing strain on the parts.

Although not shown, the struts 34 lie along the side frame members 16and enclose them when the structure is used in the FIG. 1 configuration.

When the structure is used as shown in FIG. 1, the base can be usedeither as a table top, with the members 31 extending downwardly alongthe sides of the structure or alternatively as a floor beneath theplaypen. The members 31, in this case, serve as feet to raise the floora few inches above the ground.

Within the end member 14, which is of hollow inverted box form, there isdisposed a bore (not illustrated) which is for suspending a swing,chair, harness, or other suspended device. A subframe can also beprovided which is securable to the side frames 10 and 11 intermediatetheir ends when in the FIG. 2 mode, and on this can be supported arocking horse or seesaw, or a slide.

An alternative longer slide can be supported on the end member 14. Aflexible cover can be placed over the whole structure to form a tent.

The structure illustrated is intended primarily for indoors but analternative form, possibly larger, can be provided for outside use. Thestruts 34, are in this case provided with feet extensions for drivinginto the ground, if required, to provide stability.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A childrens play device comprising a structure having two sideframes, an end member hingedly connected to the side frames at one endof the structure, and one of two alternative interchangeable end membersat the other end of the structure, one of said alternative end membersbeing hingedly connectable to the side frames to form a collapsibleplaypen, or a base for a table or trampolene, or similar apparatus,wherein the side frames and end members are on edge, and the other ofthe alternative end members being rigidly securable at the ends of theside frames to form a climbing frame, or a support for a swing, slide,seesaw, or similar apparatus, wherein the rigid end member is uppermost.

2. A childrens play device as claimed in claim 1 in which the endmembers are identical to form the playpen or similar device, the endmembers being two part foldable frames.

3. A childrens play device as claimed in claim 1 having a base which canbe used as a floor or which can be used as a table top supported on thetop of the structure.

4. A childrens play device as claimed in claim I in which the rigid endmember disposed at the top of the structure is a stands when the rigidend member is uppermost.

7. A childrens play device as claimed in claim 6 in which struts extendbetween the base and the side frames of the structure.

8. A childrens play device as claimed in claim 7 in which the struts areof channel section and are engageable on the side frames when they arenot in use.

1. A childrens play device comprising a structure having two sideframes, an end member hingedly connected to the side frames at one endof the structure, and one of two alternative interchangeable end membersat the other end of the structure, one of said alternative end membersbeing hingedly connectable to the side frames to form a collapsibleplaypen, or a base for a table or trampolene, or similar apparatus,wherein the side frames and end members are on edge, and the other ofthe alternative end members being rigidly securable at the ends of theside frames to form a climbing frame, or a support for a swing, slide,seesaw, or similar apparatus, wherein the rigid end member is uppermost.2. A childrens play device as claimed in claim 1 in which the endmembers are identical to form the playpen or similar device, the endmembers being two part foldable frames.
 3. A childrens play device asclaimed in claim 1 having a base which can be used as a floor or whichcan be used as a table top supported on the top of the structure.
 4. Achildrens play device as claimed in claim 1 in which the rigid endmember disposed at the top of the structure is a moulding and is securedto the side frames o the structure by clamping means at its endsrespectively.
 5. A childrens play device as claimed in claim 4 in whichthe rigid end member has a pair of bars upstanding from it along twoopposite edges respectively.
 6. A childrens play device as claimed inclaim 1 in which the structure has a base disposed to engage the endmember remote from the rigid end member on which the structure standswhen the rigid end member is uppermost.
 7. A childrens play device asclaimed in claim 6 in which struts extend between the base and the sideframes of the structure.
 8. A childrens play device as claimed in claim7 in which the struts are of channel section and are engageable on theside frames when they are not in use.